Today I am chatting to Jess Workman who is a Virtual Assistant leading the life of a digital nomad. We find out what the digital nomad lifestyle is and there are tips for getting the most from it. We also chat about how virtual assistants can help authors market their books.
Instagram handles - jessyworkman
Facebook - Jess Workman
Today I am chatting to Jess Workman who is a Virtual Assistant leading the life of a digital nomad. We find out what the digital nomad lifestyle is and there are tips for getting the most from it. We also chat about how virtual assistants can help authors market their books.
Instagram handles - jessyworkman
Facebook - Jess Workman
Hi, and welcome to the writing and marketing show brought to you by author Wendy H. Jones. This show does exactly what it says on the tin. it's jam packed with interviews, advice, hints, tips and news to help you with the business of writing. It's all wrapped up in one lively podcast, so it's time to get on with the show. And welcome to episode 164 of the writing and Marketing Show with author entrepreneur Wendy H. Jones. As always, it's a pleasure to welcome you to the show. It's particular pleasure to welcome you to this show because it comes to you from sunny alat in Israel, and it really is sunny. It's going to be 33 degrees here today. I'm in seventh heaven because you know, regular listeners know I'm a bit of a sun washer person very excited. So because I'm being a bit of a digital nomad for two weeks I just got here from Jerusalem yesterday, I thought I would do today's episode on being a digital nomad, and I'm going to be interviewing Jess workman who is a digital nomad and is going to talk to us through that lifestyle and would want to touch a little bit on working with a virtual assistant as well. So, a great episode today. So, what have I been up to? Well, the last five days, I haven't done a heck of a lot of writing. Because I've been walking miles around Jerusalem, my poor legs are saying, What on earth are you doing? Wendy, you're a writer, you're meant to be sitting down. But I've just been soaking up all that history. What an amazing, amazing place. I did live here 28 years ago. So it's an absolute pleasure to be back and to be seeing everyone again and to be seeing Jerusalem again, because Jerusalem really is a lovely place. And I also met up with some Israeli writers. And that was amazing because Israel has a vibrant writing scene. So, I really enjoy doing that. Before we get on today's episode, I would like to say it's an absolute pleasure to well, to do this show for you every week. I love doing it, but it does take time out of my writing. If you would like to support that time, you can do so by going to patreon.com forward slash Wendy H Jones. That's pa t ar e o n forward slash Wendy H Jones. And you can support me for just $3 a month, which is the price of a tea or coffee a month. And it would let me know that you enjoy the show. You want me to keep doing it and I would be eternally grateful because as they say, every little helps, especially in this day and age. So I have Jess, I actually met Jess here last night in Eilat. And she's staying at the same hostel as me which is the Shelter Hostel in Eilat in Israel and I can highly recommend it. It's a lovely place. And the owner Jud Pex is herself a writer. And she has written several books. So, it's amazing to be here because I've been able to talk writing as well. So, Jess is currently volunteering here at the shelter hostel. And this is what she says about herself. She's bare footed, sun chasing beach lover who has a passion for travel. She's a digital nomad, originally from England, currently working in the marketing realm as a personal virtual assistant. Her clients range from Holistic Health to restaurants and everything in between. Social media presence and content is her main focus. She says it's been a privilege experiencing different cultures while she has been travelling for the past seven years. During this time, she has volunteered and participated in missionary work, some general jobs, from fitness centres to coffee shops, she loves to write, especially when helping businesses. And this passion has led her to write a book called A Simple Truth, which covers life's big questions. So she is also a writer, as well as a digital nomad and virtual assistant. Her personal website is under construction, but I will pop it into the shownotes when it's there, and I will give you the other contact details in the show notes as well. So without further ado, let's get on with the show. And welcome Jess and we have Jess here with us. Welcome Jess. How are you today?
Jess Workman:Well thank you yeah, I'm well thank you. Yeah, how are you? Oh, I'm
Wendy Jones:great. Hey, I'm great because I'm sat here in Israel. Israel's an amazing place. First one I've done from Israel. Yeah, is it? Yeah, it is. Well, Jess and I met in Israel as well. So it's a great place. It really is. So Jess hey, I want to know, I've asked everybody this question. Not for the podcast. But while I've been here, what's the best thing about being in Israel for you?
Jess Workman:Wow. That's a hard question because the best thing that's tricky I honestly I love the beach. So and we're currently you I'm currently in Eilat. So, it's right on the south, right near Jordan and Egypt. And yeah, literally a 10 minute walk or five minute walk to the beach and you can swim with dolphins. And it's just absolutely insane. I think that's one amongst many other things that's just incredible about Latin Israel.
Wendy Jones:Oh, it really is. All of this sun and all this sea, it's just marvellous. Although I haven't seen much sand yet. But hey, we like the sun in the Rocky. Yeah, anyway, I'm sure despite the fact my listeners probably want to hear about Israel. They probably want to know more about the digital nomad lifestyle. I mean, I love the idea of being a digital nomad. It's my dream to just travel around the world and write which I'm trying to do. But you know, not to the extent you are. But for those of my listeners who don't know what we're talking about, what exactly is a digital nomad?
Jess Workman:Yeah, so I guess in a nutshell, it is basically it's working online whilst being able to travel. So we saw a lot of this transition in COVID, for example, when remote working became so such a popular thing and a thing that a lot of businesses had to transition into because we weren't able to travel to our office. So we decided to take work home, we bought it to our laptops. And yeah, so a digital nomad is a nomad I guess is a it's a wonder, a wonder of the world. So, and digital, obviously, it's everything online. So yeah, it's wandering the world. And doing so with the means of working online.
Wendy Jones:It's fantastic. What a lifestyle. I love it. But I'm curious as to how you came to be a digital nomad. So please, can you tell us your story?
Jess Workman:Yeah, it's like, it's, it's hard to kind of sum up, I guess in a, in a short amount of time. But basically, I, I've always just found cultures and the world such a fascinating place. You know, I grew up at home. And we have I remember, we have this massive world map in our living room. And I remember as a really, as a young child, just looking at it and thinking, I am so small, and the world is so big, and I want to see the world you know. And so I pretty much studied up until 17. I'm from England, originally. So I had sixth form. And then I went straight to California. And I studied college out there. I studied there for a couple of years. And I guess you could say the travel bug caught me. Yeah, I did many road trips, and then ended up in Canada. And I guess, try to figure out, okay, how can I travel and do what I love meet so many incredible people and cultures and learn from them and grow from them. And do this in a way that I can actually sustain myself financially, you know, because you have to have money to be able to travel. So yeah, that kind of, I guess, started my journey. Then I figured out a thing called Workaway. I'm not sure if you do you know about what I don't know. So Workaway it's a platform that you can sign up to, and you get a year's membership and people. So businesses or families or single people can say what they need. So for example, I did this in Nepal, I was in and they said they need help in their garden, they need help with growing vegetables, they need help with cooking the food and they will give you exchange, accommodation, and sometimes food. Sometimes they'll even pay you a little bit just on the side. But normally it's accommodation and food. So I found this platform called Workaway and was thinking wow, this is incredible, you know, I can I can go to another country and essentially live for free. If I work for a couple of hours and it's it's general work, you know, it's like just it's not anything really grafting it's Yeah, helping families painting, working hostels, so you get to meet so many incredible people. And so I was really, I was so far out I love Yeah, I just was so excited. So I did this in various countries in Costa Rica. I worked in a hostel in Portugal. I did surf camps in Nicaragua. I was there in Nepal. Obviously I was helping with their gardens with cooking In Thailand, Muay Thai camps, you can literally do anything. So the world really was your was your oyster. So? Yeah, so I did this for a long time amongst doing mission work and different other volunteering opportunities and general jobs as well, and try to figure out, okay, I love this lifestyle, but I have to get some means of money to be able to pay for my my flights, you know, if food wasn't provided, I needed to pay for that if travel insurance, you know, all these different things that come up your phone and all these bills, life bills. So I was thinking, okay, what can I do my passion is my I have a real passion for for health and fitness, and living a holistic lifestyle. I've worked in a number of different places doing this. And then I also thought, okay, how can I do that, but take it with me. So marketing came up, I googled and marketing, and you can do life coaching, but it's all through zoom, and all these different technologies incredible these days. It's just Yeah, amazing. I'm so grateful for it. So I tried to combine all of it together. So I studied nutrition online whilst doing these Workaway things. And then I also studied marketing. So I did both. And then pretty much looked for businesses did just like a freelance of, okay, I can help you market your company. And, yeah, you know, word of mouth, and also just emailing people. And yeah, just putting yourself out there. Companies accepted me and I grew, and still is a journey. But it's an exciting one. And it means that I can, yeah, have the incredible blessing what it is to travel the world and work online.
Wendy Jones:That is a fabulous story. Hey, I know all my all my listeners, perhaps the ones in the UK at the moment that are listening this week, will probably be sitting in the pouring rain in the freezing cold, we can get away with talking about the weather. And here we are abroad. It's a It's you've shown us a way to do it. And I think that's fabulous that you've taken it in and taken on and you've run with it. I think it's brilliant. Yeah. So for anybody who's sitting there thinking, Oh, this is a lifestyle for me. Bearing in mind, this is a show for writers, and we can write anywhere, what would be the starting point for anyone considering it?
Jess Workman:Yeah, so actually, I think it's, I think it's really a number of different questions, really, that you should ask yourself, and some of them have First off, do you actually enjoy travelling? That would be the main one? Because if it's a no, then I think you should, yeah, stay where you are? Do you want to see the world? Why are you wanting to do this? I think that is a big one for me why? And it's so important. And just like, throughout my travelling experiences, I've met so many different people with different why's. And, for example, some of them there. Why is because they actually, if they get down to it or running from something, you know, and unfortunately, yourself goes with you. Everywhere you travel, you know. So if you're doing it from that motive, it's it's not going to work, you know, it's going to crumble, and it's not going to Yeah, you have to address those issues. But yeah, there's other ones. Can you financially do that? Can you support yourself? Are you prepared to get out of your comfort zone? I think that's a big one. Travelling is, is not predictable at all. So that is yeah, a real big one. If you've got family, if you're married, if you've got children, can you actually are they going to come with you? Or are you in a position to do that? There's many questions I think you should ask yourself before going into the lifestyle, you know, because you don't want to be stuck. Yeah. In a Yeah, not a good situation.
Wendy Jones:You're right. And working out that it is the actual lifestyle for you is always a good one, you know, because and also I think to add to that it's do you like spending time alone, because although you do meet people, there's going to be times when you're on your Jack Jones as we would say you need to be comfortable with yourself as well.
Jess Workman:I think that it's yeah, it's huge. I think if you're not you're gonna figure out how to be real quick, because you can't get away from that for sure.
Wendy Jones:Yeah, yeah. But no, you've given us good things. And yeah, I'm glad you brought up families because of course farm I know families that do this as well, but you've got to be able to, you know, the whole family has to be comfortable with this. Yeah. So as well, so there are a lot of considerations. So basically, what would be the basics that someone would need in order to be a digital nomad, or to lead the laptop lifestyle, as it's also called as an author.
Jess Workman:So honestly, it's, so it's a laptop, that's what you need. You need Wi Fi. And that sounds very straightforward. But honestly, if you're going to places like, I've been certain places in Nicaragua, like they just the connection is terrible. So it's really important to make sure that you go to places with Wi Fi. And then also, it's just self motivation, self determination. And that is really the basics. To be honest of what you need. You don't need a lot. I think you realise actually how little you need when you do travel and have the lifestyle that is a digital nomad?
Wendy Jones:Yeah, I think you do, actually. And I think probably the other thing is you least need the money for your first flight ticket and a few days, when you first get to the first country, you know, you might want to figure it out beforehand, just, although, in the past there have been people that have just got on a plane, they've had enough money for the plane or a boat, and off they go. And they figured it out as they go along.
Jess Workman:Yeah, I think that's yeah, for sure. And I think that's where kind of determination and self motivation comes in? For sure. Yeah,
Wendy Jones:yeah. We always look at the positive side of such a lifestyle, but we never consider the drawbacks. What would you say are potential drawbacks?
Jess Workman:For me, I think, first off, is I absolutely adore my family, and they are all in it, or majority of them are in England. So that is a huge drawback, you know, they are so encouraging of it, and they love the lifestyle that I have, but we, we miss each other, you know, and that's, that's a real hard drawback and something that you have to face for me daily, you know, I missed them daily. So it's, that's a big drawback. Another one is having regular community, you meet so many different people. And it's incredible, you know, it's such a blessing to meet these people. But then they move on. And it's something that's you give part of your heart away, you know, when you're meeting these people, and then they move on. And obviously, you can stay in contact with phones and laptops and technology that we have. But it's, you have to really be careful with guarding your heart to make sure that you stay sane. So that's another drawback. One would be for me, as a solo woman traveller. The it's actually quite difficult. And just, you know, you have to be wise, you have to be aware of your surroundings, like you have to be everywhere, you know, but in certain other countries like, yeah, certain Central American countries, or that just the culture is so different when it comes to man and woman and how you're meant to treat those people. And yeah, that's another one that I would say is, is a trial for sure. Yeah, there's some of them. Some of them?
Wendy Jones:Yeah, I'm going to say another one is it's very difficult sometimes to find a quiet place to do your work. But guys, we're just showing you what leading the digital lifestyle is like, yeah, there's a drill going on or a saw or something. But we're gonna plough on because we're professionals. And that's just the way it goes. You know, that's one of the drawbacks. You know, I think you're right, that meeting new people, and then they move on, you know, sometimes they move on very quickly. So you're having to make friends very quickly, you know, as well. So, I'm curious, would there be a lead up time to this type of lifestyle? Or would you just say, What the heck, I'm going to do it and get on a flight and go?
Jess Workman:Well, I think it's, yeah, it's a good question. Because I think it's, like very dependent on your situation that you're actually in. Yeah. So for example, if you're in a, if you're in working as a contracts, you know, you can't just pick up and go. If you're, if you don't have the money to go, you can't just go there's a lot of practical things that I think you have to consider before going. But then again, if you do have the freedom to do that, if you do have the financial freedom to do that, if you don't have too many responsibilities where you are or at least you can take those responsibilities with you. Then you can just say what the heck let's go. So it's, it's really dependent. Yeah. On your situation that you're in?
Wendy Jones:Yeah, I think you're right. You know, And you'll need to just weigh up what's best for you as an individual. Yeah, yeah. I'm going to change tack here a bit because you are aslo a marketing virtual assistant. And I'm interested, have you ever worked with authors? Or would you consider doing so in the future? Because I know that's a question many of my listeners have hope. And I would ask you,
Jess Workman:yeah. So actually, I, I haven't previously worked with authors, but I am so open to doing so. And I would be honoured really to do. So I love helping people and helping businesses and yeah, improve their work and be able to showcase the gift that you've created. You know, and especially if you've written something, it's amazing to be able to see people improve on it being spread. So yeah, 100%, I'd be up for that. That's brilliant.
Wendy Jones:And I'm going to be talking to Jess next week about marketing being a virtual assistant. And we're going to talk about how to market your book. So Jess is going to be researching it like, let's do this, let's do this. But you know, that's the thing. When you are leading the laptop lifestyle or digital nomad, you learn to turn on a postage stamp, as we say in UK, or on a dime, as they say, in America, you know, you can swivel, you can turn your hand and we're going to stretch Jess this week, really? So, let's do this, as we say. And I'm fascinated by the fact you are a marketing virtual assistant, what sort What do you do for clients?
Jess Workman:Yeah, so it really ranges depending on the client. But yeah, so it's content creation. So all social media, so worked with LinkedIn, Tik Tok, website, Instagram, Facebook, you name it, help with engagement. I write blogs for people. So recently, I've just been doing a holistic health tide with Surf blog. So that's been fun. I do content writing brand representation. Newsletters. Yeah, just anything. Virtual basically, that helps market, the business or the person or the product. So yeah,
Wendy Jones:so literally fantastic. I like the way you mentioned, tick tock, I'm a bit of a tick. If I ever get ever get two minutes, silence, tic TOCs. Here. We could maybe do a book talk together about your book, because that's the next question. I'm going to ask you. You've written a book. Tell us about it.
Jess Workman:Yeah. So, it's a little book called A simple truth. Actually, I have like the just a small one here to show. Yeah, I can read the back. So it says, the depths of existing and our purpose on this earth goes far beyond what I have written here. This is only playing in the shallow waters of the ocean. But my hope for writing as I have done was to convey how simple our purposes and yet how unnecessarily complicated we sometimes make it. So yeah, I basically I'm, I'm a believer. So I believe in God, I believe in the Bible. And there's been my friends and people I meet along the way, they always they're asking me questions, you know, of why you believe that? Why is there suffering if God is real, and all these different questions, so I wanted to be able to give them something that they could read in, just go away with and just think about, that's really what I wanted to have just some time to be still and just to think about life's big questions of our purpose and why we're on this planet. So I decided to write, write something and I was able to create it during COVID, actually, because I thought, Okay, people, what people have right now, for the most part is time, and they have time to think about things and we've been confined to that to the home or confined to, it's crazy. I don't know what it was like in Scotland. But I mean, in England, we've actually could only go out and have a certain amount of miles or certain amount of time in the day, you know, so it's, yeah, I decided to write it then. And then give it to or send it to people. Yep, do a bit of a mix. But that was my heart for it just for, for people to have time to think and think about the big, big questions of life.
Wendy Jones:Fantastic. Yeah, and it does look like a good book. And I love the style of writing from the back. I mean, it's beautifully written lyrical. So you know, I think it will make people listen. Now my final question, because all podcasts have to come to an end at some point. Where can my listeners find out about you your book and indeed contact you if they would like to chat about marketing?
Jess Workman:Yeah, so currently, it's like it's a crazy timing. This is because I'm currently redoing my website that is currently under construction. But what I can do is my email address. So it's JSWMarketingfreelance@gmail.com. So that's my email. And then also I have Instagram, which is Jess Workman, and Facebook, Jess Workman, so you can contact me on there. And then obviously where my my website is done I can I can send that over to you. But I would love to chat and yeah, hear from you.
Wendy Jones:Yeah, well, thank you very much Jess for taking time out from the beach and those dolphins join me today. We are outside we are sitting under an awning in a very beautiful hostel and a lot and it's been a pleasure to meet you. And I'm looking forward to chatting to you about marketing. Yeah, me too. Thank you. That brings us to the end of another show. It was really good to have you on the show with me today. I'm Wendy H Jones. And you can find me at Wendy H jones.com. You can also find me on Patreon where you can support me for as little as $3 a month which is less than the price of a tea or coffee. You go to patreon.com forward slash Wendy H Jones. I'm also Wendy H Jones on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Thank you for joining me today and I hope you found it both useful and interesting. Join me next week when I will have another cracking guest for you. Until then, have a good week and keep writing keep reading and keep learning